Town of Stonington Conservation Commission
Minutes of a Regular Meeting held on January 22, 2007
Stonington Police Station Meeting Room, 173 South Broad Street, Pawcatuck, CT
1. Call to order: Called to order by Chairman Simm at 6:20 pm. Commission members also in attendance were Cole, Swenarton, Herbst, and Baldwin. Bell, Lyons and Dewire were absent. Town Planner Brynes and Leon Mularski, Dora Hill and Ed Hart, members of the public, were present.
MOTION: Move to item 5, New Business (Cole, Herbst). Passed unanimously.
Mr. Mularski presented his offer in a letter to transfer 3 parcels to the town as committed open space: the two committed open space parcels of the Blueberry Pond subdivision (13.3-acre 13-1-24 adjacent to Spellman Park & 7.05-acre 13-1-25 containing the former Dog Pond), "Parcel B" (a small portion of the Ryskiewich property at the end of Shea Dr) and "Parcel C" off Johnson St (23.76-acre 13-1-12 with access to Oakwood Ave and Hickory Ln). The offer was for 44.64 acres at $9,000 per acre or $401,760. Members of the Commission indicated an interest in 23.76-acre "Parcel C" as it adjacent to Avalonia's 10.19-acre Simone and Antonetta Norcia Preserve. The property is crossed by a sewer interceptor running through wetlands and an access easement to the Norcia Preserve and two
properties to the west of the preserve.
MOTION: Move to item 2a, Review of Town Developments and Proposals (Cole, Herbst). Passed unanimously.
2. Review of Town Developments and Proposals.
2a. PZ0669RA MIRG Mystic Harbour, LLC - Regulation Amendment to Zoning Regulation Section (ZR) 7.19.6.3.2 IHRD New Construction Design Standards to allow for ten (10) units of housing per acre. A "Proposed Text Amendment and Statement in Support Presented by MIRG Mystic Harbour, LLC" was distributed by the Town Planner. MOTION: The original purpose of the IHRD (Industrial Heritage Re-Use District) regulation as for the orderly redevelopment and usage of the existing mills in town while not overburdening infrastructure in the surrounding area. We see no clear benefit of this proposal to the town as it appears to be customized to the developer's needs for increasing density on one particular parcel (Swenarton, Cole). Passed unanimously.
MOTION: Return to item 5, New Business (Baldwin, Cole). Passed unanimously. A walk at "Parcel C" was scheduled with Mr. Mularski for 4 PM on Tuesday January 30th, meeting at the end of Oakwood Ave. The town planner will post the meeting. Mr. Mularski departed.
MOTION: Move to item 2b, Review of Town Developments and Proposals (Cole, Swenarton). Passed unanimously.
2b. PZ0701POCD Town of Stonington (Conservation Commission) - Plan of Conservation and Development Amendment for the adoption of the Conservation Commission 2006 Open Space Plan. The town planner said that the Planning & Zoning Commission (PZC) hearing would be held on February 20th. Baldwin suggested paying for color map printing for PZ Commissioners. Herbst will arrange printing.
2c. PZ0661RA Town of Stonington – Regulation Amendment to Section 8.7 Fee Schedule to provide a re-application fee process for applications that have been withdrawn prior to Commission review and for Zoning Permit resubmissions within one year of Zoning Official decision. Previously reviewed at meeting on October 23, 2006. The Commission discussed that State statutes require that municipal fees must be set by ordinance. MOTION: We request that the PZC follow State statutes in regard to establishing and levying fees (Cole, Herbst). Passed unanimously.
2d. Any pending applications and new preliminary proposals. None.
3. Open Space Committee
3a. Open space plan update – discussion on parcels for preservation. Herbst discussed the Johnson St offer. MOTION: To go into executive session (Cole, Swenarton). Passed unanimously, Hart and Hill left the room. The Conservation Commission (CC) discussed properties offered to the town for acquisition. MOTION: To return from executive session (Cole, Swenarton). Passed unanimously, Hart and Hill returned. Chairman Simm quoted Wallace Nutting on how Stonington's stonewalls form a landscape unique to New England.
3b. Discussion on parcels for preservation in Pawcatuck – Ben. Baldwin said that Mr. Verzillo gave permission for the CC to discuss his property with the Board of Finance. Hill said that the Board of Finance does not want to discuss open space acquisition until May, as they are busy with the town budget. MOTION: The Burdick Lane property is a priority item for acquisition to be pursued by the Open Space Committee (Swenarton, Cole). Passed unanimously. Hill noted that it abuts an historic high-density residential district.
3c. Discussion on possible referendum for open space bonding. The Board of Finance requested a set amount for a budget line item. They had offered seed money for land acquisition expenses such as surveys. Hart said that the CC had a tree fund at one time that could be revived with funding. The relationship between the independent Open Space Bonding Committee and the CC was discussed. Simm said that CC members could act as public citizens on committees such as the OSBC, per Atty. Axelrod.
4. Old Business
4a. Report on PZC Open Space Subcommittee. No activity.
4b. Mystic River Dam Committee. Setting up a February meeting of interested parties: Gephardt of DEP, officials of Groton, Ledyard, Stonington, Trout Unlimited, and Bell. Baldwin to compile a list of abutters to Hyde/Whitford pond.
4c. Discussion on grant and matching funds for trails program. Not discussed.
4d. Discussion on recommended procedure for Town’s acceptance of conservation easements and open space. Discussed requesting the Department of Planning to research other town’s procedures, guidelines and required management plans.
4e. Discussion on January 10, 2007 meeting regarding formation of a Stonington Land Trust. Simm, Cole & Herbst attended meeting hosted by Jim & Laurie Smith; Atty Fritz Gahagan presented “Defining Goals and Focus Areas,” distributed to CC by Herbst; SLT board is currently being formed; Next meeting 2/15/07 at Stonington Vineyards.
5. New Business
5a. Discussion on DEP’s Coastal Land Assessment Methodology (CLAM) Project. Dave Kozak of DEP may make his presentation at February or March meeting.
5b. Simm received a suggestion that the town sell land it has taken for back taxes to fund open space acquisition; Westerly is reportedly investigating this option.
6. Review of December 18, 2006 meeting minutes. MOTION: To approve the minutes with change of item 7 from “Public Workshop on Open Space Planning in Stonington” to “Adjournment” (Cole, Herbst). Passed unanimously.
7. Adjournment.
7a. Motion to Adjourn (Baldwin). Meeting adjourned at 10:15 PM.
Respectfully submitted by Ben Baldwin, Acting Secretary.
Approved at a regular meeting on February 26, 2007
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